Chapter 58
Augustin’s POV
u should think about why you got your ass handed to you by Fang in the war, instead of standing here telling me how to do things, I reminded him. “Don’t lecture me on strength, brother. You will never measure up.”
Evanth face darkened.
“And I’ll deal with Kieran when the time is right,” I said. “On my terms, not yours or Mother’s.”
Mother’s eyes narrowed. “You have Kieran’s woman?”
“No,” I stated firmly. “I don’t.”
Evanth smiled smugly. “Her name is Juno Warden, and she’s important enough to Fang that he sent Deltas to attack us to rescue her.”
A calculating smile spread across my mother’s face. “We could use her,” she said eagerly. “Force Kieran to-”
“No!” I slammed my hand on the table. “Juno saved my life. She fought against her own people to protect me. She could have left with them, but she stayed–at great risk to herself.”
I took a deep breath, trying to control my temper. “I care about her. Deeply. And if you force me to choose between her and your
schemes, I will choose her without hesitation.”
Evanth snorted. “You’re pathetic. Getting all worked up over some Alpha’s leftovers? She just used goods. She was handed over as tribute. She’s garbage.”
The urge to rip out my brother’s throat nearly overwhelmed me. I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I growled. “Juno sacrificed herself to save her husband’s life. He didn’t give her up easily. He fought. He can died trying to keep her. That’s how powerful she is.”
“Oh, she must be really good in bed then,” Evanth sneered. “Is that it? She fucks like a champion? Maybe I should find out for myself what all the fuss is about. Alpha King’s sloppy seconds-”
“Why did you summon me here?” I demanded, cutting him off and turning to my mother. “To ambush me? To insult me? To try to force me to give up my birthright to this incompetent fool?”
“You need to step down,” she insisted. “The council-”
“Even if I wasn’t Alpha King anymore, Evanth would never succeed me,” I said with a cold smile. “I and my officers would refuse to fight for him.”
My mother’s face tightened. “Evanth,” she said tersely, “leave us.”
He started to protest, but she cut him off. “Now.”
With a sullen expression, he twirled his car keys and stalked out of the house.
My mother stood. “Come with me,” she said, leading me to the sitting room. Once we were seated, her expression softened.
I worry about you, Augustin. I can’t lose you too. Not after everything else I’ve lost.”
1/2
Chapter 58
1 remained silent, still seething
“Kieran wants to rule the world,” she continued. He’s worse than you father ever was. More dangerous. We need to strike first. Maybe we can use that woman.
“And you think Juno is his spy?” I asked incredulously.
“She could be,” my mother insisted. “You don’t know her.”
“She told me she only met Kieran once at a party. They danced. That’s it.”
My mother’s eyes widened. “You can’t possibly believe that. No one wages war over someone they met once at a party. Maybe she’s not being completely honest with you, whether out of fear or… something else.”
I considered this.
“Promise me you’ll look into her background,” my mother pressed, her voice gentle but firm. “I’m afraid she’ll be your downfall, sweetheart.”
Despite my reservations, I nodded. “I’ll look into it.”
She visibly relaxed, satisfied with my concession. While I didn’t doubt Juno would lie to me about something so important, especially after we’d shared everything, Mother’s words weren’t completely off base either. I’d ask Juno directly about the specifics to figure out how to handle this, but without making her uncomfortable.
“I’ve been looking into suitable Luna for you,” my mother said, changing the subject. “There’s a lovely girl from the Duval family. A virgin, of course.”
NA
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